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An Open Letter to the #TellurideFilmFestival.
When the 2020 festival was cancelled, #Telluride pushed forward with a cynical, selfish plan that hurt independent filmmakers.
I'm not going to keep quiet about it. #FilmFestival #filmmakers #indiefilm #filmtwitter #FilmFestivals
When the 2020 festival was cancelled, #Telluride pushed forward with a cynical, selfish plan that hurt independent filmmakers.
I'm not going to keep quiet about it. #FilmFestival #filmmakers #indiefilm #filmtwitter #FilmFestivals
In July, the 2020 #Telluride Film Festival was cancelled. They notified filmmakers that they would NOT be returning submission fees b/c they were keeping us all in consideration for...something.
I followed up to ask for specifics on their plan. It was the least they could do, given that they were keeping the money (when I had been out of work by this point for 4 months) I had paid for something they would no longer provide.
This was their response. A flippant single line that in no way answered my very reasonable request for clarity on what their plans were -- on what they were keeping our money for.
So I sent another request for clarification. Which they have, to this point, ignored.
I want to be clear, my response to this is in no way driven by sour grapes at the ultimate programming decision about Receiver. Telluride is a tough festival to get into, and no one submits thinking they are a lock for a spot.
My issue is the complete lack of communication from the organization, and the clear disregard they have for how independent filmmakers are hurting right now. This is not how a festival who cares about filmmakers treats them in a time of crisis--to condescend to and ignore them.
I know a lot of filmmakers are probably suffering in silence here--its scary to stand up to an organization when there's as much of an imbalance of power as exists between festivals & filmmakers.
So I write this not only for me, but for everyone else who paid their money this year in order to be given nothing. If the festival cannot even speak to us like peers during times of crisis, then that shows you what they really think of us. Don't let the boilerplate fool you.
I would really appreciate some rebroadcasting from filmmakers and orgs out there. How Telluride has behaved is unacceptable. I know this is a hard year for festivals, but as everybody chases a solution for festivals in 2020, the filmmakers are being forgotten. We need help too.
And the thing is, it doesn't need to be this way. Filmmakers understand that the pandemic has hit festivals hard. Just talk to us like peers. Be honest. And do the right thing. You know what that is. Other festivals are doing it RIGHT NOW.
I want to shout out to Fantastic Fest. They're in much the same boat as Telluride. FF cancelled their 2020 festival, and are hoping to do some smaller, alternate film celebration in the fall. Want to know the difference?
They've been in regular contact with filmmakers. And they are returning our submission fees.
This is how a festival who cares about the community behaves. Fantastic Fest deserves to be recognized for making a hard decision and doing it right.
This is how a festival who cares about the community behaves. Fantastic Fest deserves to be recognized for making a hard decision and doing it right.
They didn't simply download their own financial woes onto individuals.
That's what the Telluride Film Festival did.
Shame on you, Telluride.
That's what the Telluride Film Festival did.
Shame on you, Telluride.
